August 23, 2013
7:00 pm @ Texas Southern University
There has always been an unspoken animosity between the cities of Dallas, in the north of Texas, and Houston in the south. Houstonians have this perception that Dallasites are old-money snobs who live in mansions and own expansive ranches, while we are more of a working-class city with barrios and oil rigs. Hence, America's team - the Dallas Cowboys - and the (now-defunct) Houston Oilers. Dallas produced Stevie Ray Vaughn, Vanilla Ice, Edie Brickell and Ashlee Simpson, while Houston is the home of Beyonce, La Mafia, ZZ Top and the Geto Boys. Dallas' greatest basketball-player is a blonde, blue-eyed German from Wurzburg, while Houston's was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Although it's a good 39 miles northwest of it, Denton is connected to that Dallas municipal system in our eyes.
Wherever these misconceptions originated from, they were probably far from the minds of the players on the pitch last Friday night. North Texas came south and did what they came to do - take advantage of the mismatches on the Tigers' end of Durley Field, where the Mean Green repeatedly outpaced the young Texas Southern defenders to the ball. By the time it was over, Karla Pineda had her two assists, and the Green had unveiled the future of their program - freshwoman striker Rachel Holden who led all scorers with a hat trick. TSU's defensive line is obviously still a work in progress, filled by sophomore Breena Lowery in the center and a rotation of newly-recruited freshwomen. Coach Tamura pulled in seniors Sarah Glenn, normally a forward, and midfielder Gabriella Perales to try and beef up the back and provide some leadership. But North Texas counter-attacked in wave after swarming wave, using speed and perfectly timed flick-on headers through the slots.The final tally could have gone into double-digits for the North, if it weren't for the heroics of goalkeeper Rebecca Hajny, who plays the position like a middle linebacker, throwing her body at opposing forwards and taking a few blows at close range.
Texas Southern fans will not allow this lopsided scoreline to mislead them into giving up on this season. Indeed, this opening defeat only serves to highlight the heart that this Tiger squad possesses, for in spite of the odds and the overwhelming mismatches, TSU never let up. They fought and played hard for the entire 90+ minutes. That is something Coach Tamura I'm sure is proud of, and the entire Houston soccer community need to learn from. This team may be young, but they already have the prerequisite strength of character needed to win championships. The corps of hard-working freshwomen rotating in the backfield is a testament to Coach Tamura's recruiting expertise. Given time, this unit will solidify and gel. They are the evidence that the future of this team is very bright indeed. This is just what a creative attacking center-midfielder like Marlyn Campa needs - a defensive backfield that will take care of business, reducing the necessity of her coming back, defenders who can turn the ball quickly and effectively towards her. A solid backline will also improve the Tigers' pace, as the forwards won't have as much field to cover when they transition into offense. This was repeatedly an issue for TSU - so many of their offensive drives started from deep in their own territory.
Out of the ten goals scored Friday night, the most beautifully executed was actually the one scored by TSU, a flash of brilliance demonstrating what this team is capable of doing - Gabriella delivering a line-drive cross from the right, connecting with Marlyn who headed it in at the far post. I guarantee these Tigers have what it takes to bounce back from a season-opener like this. As a coach, I can see it. By the time Southwestern Athletic Conference play begins, Texas Southern will be a team to be reckoned with.
Even though an unbalanced victory like this reveals little in their preparations to face their new Conference USA foes, the Mean Green can rest assured that their future in the league will remain quite competitive. Five of their nine goals were netted by underclasswomen. Along with Rachel's three, sophomore Amber Haggerty and freshwoman Anna Flobeck each contributed one. North Texas' entry into C-USA certainly shakes up the balance of power in the conference. They will meet the match they're looking for and they will give the rest of the pack a good run for their money; but they're on a collision course with Rice, my current favorite to come out on top. By the time that matchup hits the field in October, both teams will be on a roll.
 |
| Rachel Holden (grey 16) takes on TSU's Sarah Glenn (black 16). Her first career match in a Mean Green uniform, Rachel finishes with a hat trick. |
 |
| Allison Guderian (13) meets Marlyn Campa (3) in the midfield. |
 |
| Briona Reid (8) makes a move to get past Lindsey Hulstein (10). Despite the lopsided scoreline, the Tiger offense showed they have promise. |
(All photos by Kokoy Severino)
Now, I am not a coach who ever complains to or about referees from the sidelines. Indeed, I forbid my players from talking to the referee at all. I model this for them from the bench. As a spectator and student of the game, however, I recognize the influence a referee has on it. I understand that referees are human beings, and as is the nature of our species, we are prone to committing errors. Errors are just a part of life, and the referee is a part of the game. But the two penalties this referee rewarded to North Texas for what appeared to be mutual contact were inexplicable. In the 1950's, psychologist Benjamin Bloom published his taxonomy that would become a pillar of Western educational ideology. Essentially, Bloom's Taxonomy is a hierarchy of cognitive skills, a ranking of thinking processes. He placed evaluation at the very top of this pyramid of thinking processes (though a 21st century revision now has it as second to the highest, just below creation). Soccer referees must continuously be thinking at the evaluation level in the performance of their duty on the field, applying this skill to the subjective judgement of what happens in the game. On this particular night, this particular referee's evaluative skills were a bit deficient. I'll just leave it at that.
Houston Cougars 0, Georgia Bulldogs 2
August 25, 2013
1:00 pm @ University of Houston
The thick dark clouds looming over the Carl Lewis International Complex track and soccer field appeared ominous, looking all afternoon like they were about to unleash a torrent of rain, wind, thunder and lightning. But the sound and the fury never materialized, the clouds releasing only an occasional whimper of a drizzle, stopping way short of its potential. Such was the afternoon for the Houston Cougars beneath the clouds too, falling way short of their potential.
The Georgia Bulldogs recovered from their season-opening loss to UT in Austin Friday night by maintaining a majority of possession in all three thirds of the field Sunday afternoon. Georgia's speedy wings consistently took the ball deep down the flanks, raining cross after dangerous cross throughout the first half. The pressure took its toll on the newly reorganized Cougar backline, and in a confused set piece, a high lob by Nikki Hill towards goal bounced off the wet grass past keeper Sydney George, who started in place of senior Cami Koski, and into the net. Just before the half, Sydney lunged forward to punch one of many line drive crosses from that Georgia right side straight to an open Rachel Garcia who smacked the ball into the open goal to even up their aggregate in Texas. My Women of the Match would have to be the freshwoman tandem of Marion Crowder, who consistently used her blazing speed to burst down Georgia's right and turn the ball past Houston defenders towards the inside, and Gabby Seiler whose forays deep into Cougar territory caused all sorts of problems inside the box.
The Cougars were kept at bay by a solid Georgia defensive line, who took away and possessed the ball to begin systematic drives upfield. Unable to sustain possession, Houston could only counter-attack on the break, though they did create a couple of opportunities in the second half, including a goal-front melee that got the crowd on their feet. This would have given them some momentum, but no goal was to be. Possession was the key to Georgia's victory in Houston, and I suspect the Bulldogs will only continue to get better at it as the season goes on.
 |
| Gabby Seiler (18) faces Natalie Juncos (25) on Georgia's right side. |
 |
| Gabby (18) outraces Houston's Courtney Dudley (26) on Georgia's right side. |
 |
| Cougar Kylie Cook (2) hustled hard to clog up the center, forcing Gabby (18) and the Bulldogs to go wide with the ball. |
 |
| Marion Crowder (16) bursts past Cougar defender Sydnie Green (12) - guess where - on Georgia's right side. Georgia used the flanks effectively all afternoon. |
 |
| Houston keeper Sydney George (00) slides in the drizzle to make a critical save at the feet of oncoming Marion (16). |
(All photos by Kokoy Severino)
I have a hunch UH coach Chris Pfau will look to add some speed to the flanks of his defense, still in search of an identity with no returning starters except for Danielle Muñoz moving into center-back. The Coogs don't have long to get past this cloudy day, get organized defensively and make adjustments for their next opponent - Stephen F. Austin University, ranked #31 in the nation and undefeated in their first two matches of the season, including a shutout of Rice on Friday.
(In parentheses: # pre-season national ranking by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, win-draw-loss season record going into the weekend.)
Friday Aug 30 Stephen F. Austin University (#31, 2-0-0) @ U of H (#126, 1-0-1) 7:00 pm
Sunday Sep 1 Texas Christian University (#72, 1-0-1) @ Houston Baptist University (#205, 0-0-2) 7:00 pm
Friday Sep 6 Southern University (#323) @ Lamar University (#161) 7:00 pm
Friday Sep 13 University of Texas at El Paso (#185) @ HBU 7:00 pm
Sunday Sep 15 Louisiana State University (#66) @ Rice 1:00 pm
Sunday Sep 15 U of H @ HBU 7:00 pm
Friday Sep 20 Oklahoma State University (#76) @ Rice 7:00 pm
Sunday Sep 22 South Carolina State University (#292) @ TSU 7:00 pm
Friday Sep 27 Northwestern State University (#260) @ HBU* 7:00 pm
Sunday Sep 29 Vanderbilt University (#114) @ Texas A&M University (#15)* 1:00 pm at College Station
Thursday Oct 3 University of Cincinnati (#227) @ U of H* 7:00 pm
Friday Oct 11 TSU @ Prairie View A&M University (#303)* 7:00 pm
Sunday Oct 13 Texas Tech University (#21) @ Baylor University (#10)* 1:00 pm
Friday Oct 18 Oral Roberts University (#124) @ HBU* 5:00 pm
Friday Oct 18 Colorado College (#50) @ Rice* 7:00 pm
Sunday Oct 20 Mississippi Valley State University (#275) @ TSU* 1:00 pm
Thursday Oct 24 University of Central Florida (#20) @ U of H* 7:00 pm
Friday Oct 25 Grambling State University (#322) @ TSU* 7:00 pm
Sunday Oct 27 East Carolina University (#97) @ Rice* 1:00 pm
Friday Nov 1 Sam Houston State University (#233) @ HBU* 5:00 pm
Wednesday Nov 6 Conference USA Tournament Quarter-Finals @ Rice*
Thursday Nov 7 Southwest Athletic Conference Tournament @ Houston Amateur Sports Park*
Friday Nov 8 Conference USA Tournament Semi-Finals @ Rice*
Saturday Nov 9 Southwest Athletic Conference Tournament @ Houston Amateur Sports Park*
Sunday Nov 10 Conference USA Tournament Final @ Rice*
(Kokoy's Matches of the Week are those which I plan to attend.)
Kokoy Severino has been coaching junior high school soccer in the public school system of the Greater Houston area for 19 years. He holds a National Youth Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, two coaching certifications from the United States Soccer Federation, and a Master in Educational Leadership degree from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His research focuses on the relationship between interscholastic competitive soccer and the academic success of at-risk students. He returns regularly to his native country of the Philippines and conducts soccer training sessions for economically disadvantaged youths.
"This blog is to document the intensity, the depth, the passion, the strategic and tactical nuances, the stars, the spectacular play that I witness in the women's teams at the college level. And in doing so, it is my hope that others might be inspired to discover for themselves the beautiful game brought by the women." (Kokoy, from blog entry dated Nov 4, 2012)
No comments:
Post a Comment